Piano-frame



2 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

A. H. REED.

PIANO FRAME.

Patented Dec. 15,1891.

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(No Model.)

A. H. REED.

PIANO FRAME.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AIJANSON II. REED, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PIANO-FRAM E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,992, dated December15, 1891.

Application filed February 6, 1891- Serial No. SBOJ (N0 model) To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALANspN H. REED, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano Backs or Frames;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which my invention appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to the backs or frames of pianos, that supportthe sounding-board, pin-block or wrest-plank, string-plate, and otherusual piano parts, the object of the presentimprovement being to providean improved construction of such back embodying the features of greatstrength and rigidity, to resist the strain brought to bear upon thesame in use, and in which convenient and ready means are provided forthe attachment of the sounding-board, pin-block or wrestplank,string-plate, and other piano parts, and by which the same are supportedand sustained in their proper position in a very perfect and effectivemanner. I attain such objects by the improved construction of partsillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is anelevation of the back or frame of an upright piano illustrating mypresent invention; Fig. 2, a section of the same at line 0300; Fig. 3,an end elevation of the same 5 Fig. 4, a detail section at line as as;Fig. 5, a similar view at line X X Fig. 6, a detail rear elevation ofthe upper corner of the back or frame.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

As represented in the drawings, the main back or frame of the piano isformed of metal, and consists of a top rail 1, a bottom rail 2, siderails 3 3, and intermediate rails at 4, extending from the top to thebottom rail and constituting an intermediate bracing to affordadditional stiffness and rigidity to said rails, more especially the toprail 1, which in use is exposed to the greatest strain.

In my preferred construction the diiferent rails l 2 3 3, composing theframe or base, are made of a channeled formation, so that a cavity willbe formed thereby to receive and firmly hold wooden blocks5,securedinanysuit-. able manner, their upper sides or facesconstituting a continuous rim around the frame for the ready attachmentof the soundingboard 6, which is secured in place by means of the usualmarginal rim-strips 7, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4-.

\Vhile I illustrate in the drawings the different rails as of asubstantially rectangular cross-section, I do not, however, limit mypresent invention to such particular channeled cross-sectionalformation, and any other wellknown and suitable formation may besubstituted therefor without departing from the spirit of my invention,and in like manner it is within the province of my present invention tosubstitute any other well-known form of bracing for the parallelintermediate braces at a.

XVith the present improved construction I am enabled to construct thetop rail 1 with an arched stiffening structure 8 to form an abutment forthe pin-block or wrest-plank 9, which is cut away, as shown, to fit sucharched structure, and for the better attachment and holding of thepin-block or wrest-plank in proper position I form the arched structure8 with end flanges or webs 10 to form confiningabutments for the ends ofthe said wrestplank and a rear plate-extension 11 for attachment to theback of the said wrest-plank, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The string-plate 12 of the piano is secured at its marginal edges to thepresent frame by screws passing into posts 13 on the side and bottomrails 2 and 3, as shown in Fig. 3, the top edge of the string-plate l2resting upon the upper or outer face of the arched structure 8 andsecured thereto by screws, as shown.

l-i are lugs or ribs on the outer surface of the side rails to formabutments for the braces of the top, the key-board or bottom, and thefeet of the piano.

15 is a tie-rod extending across the frame adjacent to its rear side forthe double purpose of bracing or tying the frame together and forming aconvenient handle by which to move or carry the piano.

Informing my improved piano back or frame the same may be cast in a moldfrom any suitable metal or alloy possessing the necessary strength. I,however, prefer to press it out of a sheet or plate of wrought metalbetween suitable dies by which the special flanged or channeledformation is imparted to the different rails of the frame.

The arched form of the top rail for the support of the wrest-plank isnot claimed, broadly, herein, the same forming the subject-matter of acompanion application, Serial No. 380,543, filed February 6, 1891.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. A metal back or frame forpianos, having marginal channels for the reception of wooden blocks, towhich the sou nding-board is attached, substantially as set forth.

2. A metal back or frame for pianos, having marginal channels for thereception of wooden blocks that form a marginal rim, to which thesounding-board is attached, substantially as set forth.

3. A metal back or frame for pianos, having marginal channels for thereception of wooden blocks, to which the sounding-board is attached, thetop and bottom rails of the frame being extended outward in thedirection of the sounding-board to form a support for the spring-plateand pin-bloek of the piano, substantially as set forth.

4. A metal back or frame for pianos, having marginal channels for thereception of wooden blocks, to which the soundingboard is attached, thetop rail of the frame being provided with a socket formation to receiveand hold the pin-block of the piano, substantially as set forth.

5. A metal back or frame for pianos, having marginal channels for thereception of wooden blocks, to which the sounding-board is attached, thetop rail of the frame having an arched formation to stiffen and supportthe pin-block of the piano, substantially as set forth.

(5. A metal back or frame for pianos, having marginal channels for thereception of wooden blocks, to which the sounding-board is attached, thetop rail of the frame being provided with a socket formation to receiveand hold the pin-block and an arched formation to stiffen and supportthe same, substantially as set forth.

7. A metal back or frame for pianos, having marginal channels for thereception of wooden blocks, to which the sounding-board is attached, thetop, side, and bottom rails of the frame being extended outward in thedirection of the sounding-board to form a sup port for the string-plateand pin-block of the piano, substantially as set forth.

8. A metal back or frame for pianos, hav ing marginal channels for thereception of wooden blocks, to which the sounding-board is attached, thebottom and side rails of the frame being provided with posts that extendoutward in the direction of the soundingboard to form a support for thestring-plate of the piano, substantially as set forth.

9. A metal back or frame for pianos, having marginal channels for thereception of wooden blocks, to which the sounding-board is attached, andhaving lugs or ribs 011 the outer surface of its side rails toconstitute abutments for the braces of the top, the keyboard or bottom,and the feet of the piano, substantially as set forth.

10. A metal back or frame for pianos, having marginal channels for thereception of wooden blocks, to which the sounding-board is attached, anda tie-rod extending across the frame and forming a convenient means forhandling the piano, substantially as set forth.

11. As an improved article of manufacture, a piano back or frame formedof pressed wrought metal, substantially as herein described, andprovided with channels for the reception of wooden blocks, to which thesounding-board is attached.

In testimony whereof witness my hand this 3d day of February, 1891.

ALANSON ll. REED.

In presence of- ROBERT BURNS, GEO. H. ARTHUR.

